Bipolar Disorder HelpGuidance, Instruction, and Help from
someone that has returned to normalcy for over 32 years

Release notes Sept 2014 on usage of Seroquel
XR and or Risperdal: Due to long time usage of lithium I had to get off lithium
and use a secondary med. Risperdal proved to be too toxic to my stystem but the
generic seroquel or Quetiapine Fumarate has worked fine. Depending on dosages
this med can overwhelm you but with proper medical help you can find a good
dosage level. Right now I have been taking this med about 1 1/2 to 2 hours
before bedtime and it works great to improve sleep. Please note that with any
med there could be side effects. I started on a higher dosage and slowly lowered
the value. Please note Seroquel XR (xtra release) is very expensive for most
insurance plans (over a hundred dollars) while the Quetiapine Fumarate
cost me about 6 bucks for a 30 day supply!

I plan to release information that to the best of
my knowledge has been given out on this disease. This will be my update site
available free to everyone.

For the past 15 years I have engaged in
phone conversations and media communication devices as AOL, SKYPE, and
YAHOO Messenger. I can help most people with emails for general
information. But to correct a bipolar that is going in the wrong
direction I need time and access to help these people.

.

Final thought for anyone reading my web site:
most people can be helped with this disease. There are very few that I would
call bad cases. The cases that linger from my vantage point of observing and
having this disease since 1977 are generally because the client and or family
and or support bought into terrible methods. As a rule I virtually don't show
people my life and what I have done.
The reason I mention this is because I am virtually sick and tired of people
telling me their lives are over. Bipolars have the ability to do anything. To be
serious almost all clients I have met have what I call a gift ( a lot of girls
are mensa), guys have super knowledge in math, engineering, etc. The funny part
is I have no gifts...I can't draw, I can't paint, I have no real art ability.
But God did give me one special talent helping, fixing , and maybe a true path
to fixing people.

When you understand that in 1977 I was virtually
insane. I had been put away in mental institutions for 5 years, I was divorced,
I tried to kill myself twice. I had three major nervous breakdowns.

A lot people are ill informed about bipolarism as
its not just a disease its a way of life that can be corrected. The fact is that
some bipolars live in the fact they could be better but will not seek medical
help or take the medications that will control the mood swings. Bipolars get a
bad rap because they are not able to control the emotions and moods they feel.
All the people around bipolars get effected. Perhaps this was a loving wife or
girlfriend at another time and now all of a sudden seems out of control and
doing weird things. Family members I suspect you may seem afraid or even scared
but the truth is the majority of these bipolars can be helped.

I want all of you to know that the key to living a
normal life is simple with this disease. You must do everything possible to
control the "mania" element of this disease. Bi-polarism is like a seesaw of
mental moods. The key is "Control the mania and you control the depression". I
am very active helping people online either through emails or with AOL or Yahoo
chat.

Due to the increase of cases I have
seen recently, I must give a proper warning. Bipolarism is being treated by many
doctors with antidepressants normally classed as SSRI (selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors-Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, and Luvox). The problem is
they can increase mania and more chances for increased depression and suicide. I
even find that use of them in conjunction with bipolar meds can cause problems.
Now there are cases where depression is predominant but I think cases histories
or keeping track of cycles can provide the best answers.

I also agree that on onset
psychotropics/antipsychotics (Zyprexa, Haldol, Seroquel) can and should be used
when necessary, but I am greatly concerned with long term use as per
health conditions and side effects ( dyskinesia, seizures).

People may think you are on drugs, or
having a nervous breakdown. Given wrong medications can make you suicidal.
However it may be manic depressive illness or bipolar disorder.

The truth is that it could be any one of
these factors, however my main point is that someone can be taken to the
hospital and diagnosed incorrectly. This happened to me for over 5 years and
nearly destroyed me, physically, and mentally. The doctors misdiagnosed me from
having a nervous breakdown, to having a drug problem. One time they had me
pegged for being an alcoholic (I hardly ever drink), and being confused. You
name it they called it everything but the right one, manic depressive. They even
gave me the wrong drug medications.

Certain drug interactions also made me
commit suicide twice. I never in all my life ever even thought of suicide. The
doctors gave me medications that actually induced my condition to get worse.
Think of it this way; pouring gas on a blazing fire instead of using water. Sure
I survived but it left it's ugly mark on me forever. Perhaps one of the worse
elements to my story was after being taken to the hospital, a regular office
nurse (not a floor nurse) asked me if I was ever checked for manic depressive
illness. I said no and shunned her (I thought it was a cancer or something worse
than I had). I was locked in a mental ward of people with mental problems with
no hope, only despair. I hated myself and my life.

I had been a most successful person in
my line of work, but now I was off the wall. No I wasn't using drugs, nor had I
ever harmed anyone. Yet I was being locked up like a criminal although I never
touched or hurt anyone. I was jumped on by over 6-7 men and someone would stab
me with a needle. Then the next day they load you up with haldol (antipsychotic,
a drug of high-potency, strong tranquilizer) and other medications. You're like
a zombie except you know what's going on but you're loaded with so many drugs
you can't move. Ever have anxiety attacks? I never ever had them but now it was
horrible. Even after being hospitalized I could not go into any crowded area , I
would be in terror. Medications caused these problems and more! Getting horrible
treatment and bad medical help can be deadly. What's really bad is that these
special hospitals will keep you until they blow out every last dollar of
insurance money that's available with your insurance carrier ( a regular medical
hospitals won't! ).

The truth is that some of these
institutions are mentally ill.

Finally after so many mental
institutions and state hospitals , I went to a smaller local hospital. Guess
what, after so many years of being and feeling like a mental idiot, one doctor
gave me hope. A special man that stopped death from being my hunger. He
diagnosed me for manic depressive illness . After that my only real contact with
a doctors is to get my scripts for lithium and depakote for 3 months and get a
blood test level a couple of times a year. That was nearly 20 years
ago and the only time I feel bad is when I think of what happened in those 5
years of hell on me, my family, and those of my friends and co-workers that
couldn't understand the real despair of this illness.

TODAY THERE IS BETTER
TREATMENT

I HAVE INCLUDED A PAPER I WROTE AND TO
MY KNOWLEDGE THERE ARE NEW ADVANCES WHICH I WILL DOCUMENT FURTHER INTO THIS
PROJECT.

THERE IS HOPE AND LIGHT AT THE END OF
THE TUNNEL!

Yesterday you were feeling okay and
today you're feeling very happy, except your mind is floating on a million
different thoughts. You are having so many ideas that it's actually hard to
suppress the racing thoughts. You might even go to your bank and withdraw all
the money you have. You spend it in ten minutes on things you never would have.
You might even try to do things you couldn't see yourself doing two weeks ago.
You don't take time to eat properly. You find it difficult to sleep. Perhaps you
get one or two hours of sleep each night. You might even quit your job, or you
might take a week off for no reason What you may be experiencing is a manic
depressive episode or a bipolar disorder, as it sometimes called.

A bipolar disorder is a mood disorder
in which the individual experiences erratic and unstable levels of mania and
depression in their behavior. Mania can best be described as a euphoric and
hyperactive state in which an individuals ability to make proper judgments and
decisions is impaired by uncontrollable mental processes not fully understood in
the human brain. Mania may be shown in many forms, including flighty ideas,
rapid thoughts, an inability to concentrate as most dominate. Included as well
are excesses that are not characteristic of an individual such as feelings of
grandiose and inflated self esteem. For example an individual that is usually
very conservative may get in his car and buy a new car without telling his wife
even though they can not afford one. He Is unaware of the problems he's caused.
Mania can be so heightened that a person can become totally delirious and
irrational along with increasing psychomotor activity.

An incident or period of mania lasting
for more than one week will be considered an episode. Intervention of medical
treatment is very necessary at this point. Medical care may required for this
individual to be hospitalized by family, or by direction of a proper legal
authority to protect the individual from harming himself or others. Manic
episodes are characterized by the triad of unstable mood, pressured speech and
increased motor activity. Excessive and obsessive time can be spent on
pleasurable events, failing to eat, sleep properly, and tending to daily chores.

Another side effect of bipolar
disorder is depression. The effects range from sadness to suicidal tendencies.
Clinically depression is an overall feeling of sadness or despair that may begin
after some loss or tragic events but continues long after- ward. Inappropriate
thought patterns that generalize every event as a calamity. Depression may be
best described as a loss of interest in life. Signs include sleepiness,
lethargy, and a inability to cope with daily function (cooking, making a bed)
People that are severely depressed will often lose interest in their former
pursuits and hobbies. In general depression can also cause individuals to
withdraw from society and their own social support. Women are twice as likely to
have depression over men. 30% of bipolar individuals are noted as being
alcoholics.

Bipolar-disorder was really first
observed and written about by, Plato in Early Greece. This illness effects about
2.2 million people in the United States. The primary incidence of this disorder
is during young adulthood and can be seen sometimes in adolescents.
Unfortunately only about 1/3 of the population receive treatment, leaving 2/3
without proper adequate care. Untreated this illness has a 15% suicide rate.
Lewis, 1996) The American Psychiatric Association manual "Diagnostic Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition' sets three definitions for bipolar
illness (a fourth is a bipolar disorder that is not otherwise defined) as
follows:

1.) BIPOLAR I .....usually one or more
manic episodes and one or more episodes of major depression. Severe and
heightened degrees of mania with swings to major depression. recurrent episodes.
Onset is cyclic with recurrent episodes.

2.) BIPOLAR II ....usually one or more
hypomanic episodes with one or more episodes of major depression. This form of
mania is less exaggerated with a swing to major depression.

3.) Cyclothymic Disorder ....Many
hypomanic episodes and periods of depressive features that do not fit a
depressive episode. Usually considered a milder form of bipolar
disorder.

Today we are fortunate to have three
major drugs, lithium carbonate, depakote, and tegretol, to combat the effects of
bipolar disorder, and a few other new ones. The later two drugs were previously
used for seizure disorders, and now are accepted by the Food and Drug
Administration. All of these drugs are most effective for the treatment of
mania. Proper doses of medication levels must be kept at all times to prevent
further episodes. This process is done by taking scheduled blood samples to
detect the therapeutic safe levels of drug administered. During the initial
stage of this treatment a proper serum level must be found that can keep the
illness in check without causing injury to other body organs (kidneys, etc.).
Once a level has been found it must be maintained and monitored on a regular
basis. Full body chemistry (CBC) and biochemical profiles (blood tests) must be
taken as well. Generally all of these drugs can take a week to two weeks to be
effective. These drugs must be monitored very closely, as they can cause some
severe side effects. For example Lithium's therapeutic level is close to the
toxic level in patients with bipolar illness. A common side effect is severe
diarrhea, thirst, and hand tremors. One study of patients using lithium found
that patients may quit or discontinue the use of a prescribed medication over
time. The use, monitoring, and effective treatment can best be achieved by
direct physicians care with medications (Harrow, et, al., 1990). These drugs
have been found to be 70% to 80% effective in treating acute mania, and 65% to
75% effective in prevention of further episodes.(Werder,1995,p 1129). The exact
nature of the mechanisms of action with these drugs is unknown. The activity
within the neurons of the brain, specifically the neurotransmitters are
effected-which generally slow or inhibit mental processes. All of these drugs
slow, or inhibit the mania activity within the brain. During initial or repeat
hospitalization, patients may also require antipsychotic drugs to control
thought processes using drugs like haldol or other medications to help the
patient regain better thought and mind control against mania episodes.

Many researchers believe that
bipolar-illness is a hereditary disease. Tracing the family histories of
bipolar-illness and depression can be seen to develop in future generations,
possibly skip a generation. One theory being pursued now is that bipolar illness
becomes more severe or has an earlier onset if it is directly passed down within
the family. A term that is used to describe this condition is called
"anticipation". Accordingly younger generations suffer more acutely from this
illness due to a change in the size of hereditary genes. Current research
studies are being conducted with elaborate chemical studies of the body using
deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA, and hereditary factors. DNA research has produced
some irregular results in testing and conclusive evidence. Many Researchers
today agree that a number of genes work together in a undetermined ways to
create a predisposition or likelihood to bipolar illness. One current study done
in Scotland followed a family that is multifunctional of 120 members. There are
11 members with the bipolar disorder and 16 members with major depression. Using
DNA testing the researchers were able to identify all the bipolar patients and
11 of the 16 depressive patients. This was done by observing the chromosomes or
substructures of DNA number #4. In another unrelated test tagging chromosome
#18, the results were able to identify 23 out of 26 patients that suffer from
bipolar illness. Test results are still inconclusive, but researchers believe
that cooperative results gathered by research teams will provide answers only if
researchers share information. Please note that these tests were done in remote
areas to have better control over all subjects involved in the test studies.

Although this disorder has been
treated to some degree, and can be considered a chemical imbalance problem, the
mechanics of this disease is not fully understood. Neurotransmitters are
chemical agents that change our thoughts and behaviors, and is where most drugs
are used to combat bipolar disorders. Lithium carbonate used to treat this
disease antagonizes the transmission of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine
and dopamine. Depakote inhibits the repetitive firing of cultured neurons. The
brain is over stimulated in the manic phase and needs to be controlled or slowed
down. The depressive side also needs to be addressed either with anti-depressant
drugs or Prozac and monitored for effect. Unfortunately the cycle of depression
usually lasts longer and can be very debilitating. Over the years I have
personally studied manic-depressive illness from a different level of expertise,
working as a volunteer in at outpatient facility.

Please
note that I indicate antidepressants but I strongly suggest they be used very
sparingly. This is my own recommendation, as the chemical effects and side
effects sometimes overpower the original condition. Most people I talk to can
use positive behavioral thinking which merely allows bipolar meds to work
without interruption. I also believe it works at the problem, the recovery is
hastened, and the bipolar cycle breaks down and stabilizes faster. Self esteem
is also realized.

Something that is very unusual about
people that have bipolar disorder, is that they are usually very talented. Some
could play many musical instruments , artists, creative engineers, salesman,
etc. Some of the most famous people in history are recorded as having manic
depressive illness. I found people with extraordinary abilities for example in
1980 I was introduced to a man by the hospital staff of a Nobel Prize Winner. To
my chagrin this proved to be true!

Unfortunately this illness seems to
earmark women more than men, and it shows itself generally to young adults.
Perhaps the worst part of this illness is that it can be misdiagnosed. The
illness can make an individual look high on drugs, suffering from schizophrenia,
possibly it might of even been called a nervous break-down. Life related stress
and earlier tragic events are believed to help trigger mania. Even in past years
of the over medication of patients, the real culprit wasn't found until, the
improved diagnostic procedures of DSM-IV. The key elements to the treatment of
this disease is for patients to take their prescribed dosages on a regular
basis, and keep regular appointments with a psychiatrist to monitor illness.
Most of all an individual needs to be honest with his doctor, his family, and
himself about what he is feeling. We must remember that families are effected by
the consequences of this disease which may require counseling for the patient
and family members.

In 1977 I was Vice President of sales
and then owner of a multi-million dollar business and sold large accounts. Then
in the fall of 1977 the world as I knew it was gone and so was my future. I was
hospitalized for a few months. For 5 years I was being treated for everything
but bipolar disorder. I had other episodes. Finally in 1982 a doctor told me he
suspected bipolar disorder and I was elated to know this illness was. Many years
of lithium and depakote have kept me out of the hospital and allowed me to lead
a very normal life....no mania and no depression. Visit the doctor only to get
meds and a blood test occasionally ...that's it!

Thanks for the huge amount of letters
and support. Combinations of lithium and depakote work great and besides
controlling the disease also improve adult relations and family/social
interactions. Two new drugs are being tested that are similar to depakote
however I have few details on their effects. Final note ....If you are playing
your own doctor ( take your meds when you feel like it ) You are your worst
enemy and are setting yourself up for an episode and possible hospitalization . You are what we call a " MANIC IN DENIAL ".

Get medical help and get better not
only for yourself but for your loved ones. Your disease effects them and you
have the power to change the outcome!